Gameweek 17 Preview - Fantasy Premier League Predictions, Tips, and Picks for 2023/24

Welcome to Gameweek 17, RotoBallers! This is our third year covering FPL, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever. We publish two weekly articles: a staff roundtable preview and our weekly rankings. Then, once a month, we have our newest report, The Watchlist. It is a review of the previous month and a look ahead to the upcoming fixtures.

Sixteen gameweeks down, 22 to go. After plowing through three gameweeks in nine days, we settle in FPL for a regular routine, at least until Gameweek 18. There's more European midweek action on the cards, so beware of making early transfers or it will price you out of your plans. Erling Haaland is the biggest question ahead of Gameweek 17, so watching Pep Guardiola's press conference is appointment viewing on Friday afternoon.

The Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 17 deadline is 1:30 PM ET on Friday, December 15, when Nottingham Forest entertains Tottenham. Also, look out for the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League, Major League Soccer, and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.

Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 17 Preview

The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Gameweek 17!

Erling Haaland missed Gameweek 16’s contest against Luton Town and may be out for Gameweek 17. With a blank to follow in Gameweek 18, is the Norwegian robot a sell in FPL?

• Euan Leith: I'm willing to take the chance on Erling Haaland missing out on the weekend to transfer him out. I want to get Ollie Watkins back on my team, and after Bryan Mbeumo's injury, I'll have plenty of budget to bring Haaland back into the side for Gameweek 19.
• Jamie Steed: There’s certainly no harm in selling him, especially if you have a couple of suspensions/injuries to contend with. But keep in mind that you’ll likely want him back in your squad come January, and you’ll need to ensure you monitor your balance closely to be able to afford him.
• Tom Bellucco: It's tough to stomach, but I think the proper move is to sell Haaland, with him lucky to play 60 minutes at most over the next two Gameweeks. There are too many good attacking options available to hold an empty spot at this point, and there's no guarantee Haaland is back for Everton in Gameweek 19.

Several FPL stars, including Kieran Trippier and Bruno Fernandes, will miss this weekend due to suspension. Would you transfer them out or stick them on the bench for one gameweek?

• Euan: I would hold Kieran Trippier because he's one of the best, if not the best, defensive assets in FPL. However, I would use this opportunity to get off Bruno Fernandes if you still had him. The vibes are astoundingly poor around Manchester United, and I wouldn't want any of the Red Devils bad mojo to touch my FPL squad.
• Jamie: If you can bench them, do so. It’s more important to replace one if, like me, you have two suspensions in the same position. I have two suspended defenders, and if one of my three available defenders doesn’t play, I can’t bring in a bench option for a valid formation, so I’ll be playing with ten men.
• Tom: This rest is much needed for both Tripper and Fernandes. The two veterans have been looking a bit run down of late, as their teams have put a ton of offensive weight on their shoulders each match. I'll happily hold them for a week, knowing we'll have them fresh for Gameweek 18 and beyond.

❌ Fernandes
❌ Trippier
🤏 Palmer
🤏 Hwang
🤏 Romero

Some #FPL big-hitters are suspended for Gameweek 17 or one booking away from automatic suspension 😬

Tap to see the full list 👇

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 11, 2023

Who would be your starting goalkeeper in FPL if you were on a Wildcard?

• Euan: I started the season with Jordan Pickford and got him off my team for the Gameweek 8 Wildcard. Now, I want him back. Three clean sheets on the bounce have England's No. 1 looking like the asset we were hoping for before the season kicked off. It's not an easy run of fixtures for Pickford, but he can pick up some save points against Spurs and Man City in two of his next three fixtures.
• Jamie: Martin Dubravka and the reinstated Matt Turner make sense to save you at least ~£1.0m between them. That may not seem a lot, but it gives extra flexibility in creating the rest of your lineup. That’s especially true if you’re going to replace Haaland.
• Tom: Ederson appears to be the best and easiest choice here, as he gets a home match against a Crystal Palace team lacking offensive firepower. It's been a while since Man City kept a clean sheet, so this is a prime spot to right the ship defensively.

Jordan Pickford is on fire! 🧤🔥#FPL pic.twitter.com/7BrICSYz85

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 10, 2023

Outside of Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer, who is your favorite budget-enabling (below £6.5m) midfielder?

• Euan: Brennan Johnson (£5.8m) has started the last six games for Spurs and is an excellent addition to their high-flying attack. Among players who cost less than £6.5m, the Welsh winger is sixth in expected goals (xG) and eighth in expected goal involvement (xGI). Tottenham is flying offensively right now, and Johnson offers a cheap avenue to get a piece of the Spurs onslaught.
• Jamie:  My favorite option is Leon Bailey (£5.5m), mainly because he’s made me seem smart. On the Gameweek 13 roundtable, we were asked which ‘bench players’ we were looking at, and I mentioned Bailey. He’s since started Villa’s last three games, tallying a goal involvement in each. Someone can rarely make me look like I know what I’m doing, so I’ve got to stay loyal to the winger.

Fulham scored 16 goals in their last four fixtures. Who is your favorite Craven Cottage asset for FPL?

• Euan: Raul Jimenez is a man in form, with four goals and eight bonus points in his last five games. The Mexican striker has settled into the starting XI nicely at Fulham after his summer transfer and regularly leads the line for the Cottagers. Away at Newcastle is next on the fixture ticker, but Fulham doesn't play a top-five side on the road for the remainder of the season.
• Jamie: I’ve been a big fan of Harry Wilson for some time, more so it seems than Fulham is. He’s only started one of their last four games, yet he still has five goal involvements (24 points). Willian being on penalties and set-pieces is the safer option, but if you’re going to roster a Fulham player because of a hot streak, why play things safe?
• Tom: Willian might be my favorite from a skill standpoint, but Alex Iwobi has shown much more consistency with his playing time and production, so I'll stick with the more straightforward answer for now. Ride Iwobi until he and the Cottagers slow down.

The two forwards with the most goals over the past five Gameweeks 👏

Have you owned either Solanke or Jimenez as a differential? 🤔#FPL pic.twitter.com/AYJmKdfhlw

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 12, 2023

Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 17?

• Euan: Over the last six gameweeks, Bournemouth is second for expected goals conceded (xGC). They are behind Arsenal and ahead of Man City, Aston Villa, and Liverpool. In Gameweek 17, the Cherries welcome Luton Town and its third-worst away attack to Dean Court. Neto is fifth in total points among goalkeepers this season and has kept clean sheets versus Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Man United in his last five. He'll add another one this weekend versus the Hatters.
• Jamie: Not many standouts for me this week. But Liverpool at home to Manchester United has the most appeal. United’s away record against the top sides has been nothing short of atrocious recently, and Bournemouth embarrassed them last weekend. Liverpool has the best home defense in the league, and there’s nothing to suggest that it won’t continue this weekend.
• Tom: I've already mentioned my love for Ederson and the Man City defense above. I'll also add Chelsea, as they should be able to lock down Sheffield at Stamford Bridge.

Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?

• Euan: Pedro Porro is atop my FPL wishlist and my nomination for this question for Gameweek 17. Tottenham is playing carefree, attacking football from top to bottom, and Porro is benefiting massively. He doesn't have a double-digit haul this season, but he's scored exactly five points in four of the last five fixtures. A clean sheet against Nottingham Forest and another attacking return will finally get the Spanish defender above the 10-point mark in 2023.
• Jamie: Given Liverpool’s opponent and what I just said, Trent Alexander-Arnold is the top option this week. But Pedro Porro should be atop this list, having picked up an assist in four of his last five games. Porro has been on corner and free-kick duties since James Maddison’s injury and will face a Nottingham Forest side that’s conceded more set-piece goals than any other team (eight).
• Tom: Tino Livramento is a defensive player I've looked to for offense in the past, but his overlap should be especially vital this week with Trippier out on suspension. Look for the young left-back to be ultra-aggressive with his pace and crosses to create chances against a leaky Fulham defense.

Among #FPL defenders, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (15) has registered more attacking returns in 2023 than Pedro Porro's (£5.2m) 12 🎯

110,886 managers brought the Spurs defender in for Gameweek 16. Will you do the same for Gameweek 17? 👀 pic.twitter.com/vCQa7WKZ5P

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 11, 2023

Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?

• Euan: Abdoulaye Doucoure (1.8 percent) has goals in back-to-back games for Everton and three strikes in his previous five fixtures. An away trip to Burnley is on the cards for Gameweek 17 against the side that allowed the second-most goals at home this season. Doucoure wouldn't be a long-term hold, but if you have the Wildcard in your back pocket, he's a worthwhile (and cheap) punt for this attackable match.
• Jamie: Most will know I like delving deeper than usual here, so give me Arsenal’s Kai Havertz (1.7 percent) to bag some solid points. He was harshly denied a goal last weekend, which would have made it a goal in consecutive games and a third in four in the EPL. Brighton has yet to keep a clean sheet away from home and has shipped in two or more in four of their last five games, averaging 2.8 goals conceded a game in that run.
• Tom: As the Americans say: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Matheus Cunha continues to be undervalued for the role he's playing at Wolves right now. West Ham plays transitionally, which means there should be some openings for Cunha to exploit on counter-attacks. I'll keep riding with the Brazilian, who's up to 5% owned now.

🖐️ Five Gameweeks, five attacking returns
🔥 Only Haaland and Jimenez are in better form among forwards

When will Matheus Cunha come into your thinking, #FPL managers? pic.twitter.com/6aoQMPAI5h

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 11, 2023

Who is one player you want to, but can’t, have for the Gameweek 17 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?

• Euan: As we all wait for Pep Guardiola to confirm (or not) that Erling Haaland will miss Gameweek 17, it prevents me from moving for Pedro Porro. I'll happily remove Haaland from my squad for a few weeks, but I don't like taking unnecessary hits. A striker move will probably be it for me, and then I'll wait to bring the Spanish defender in for Gameweek 18 and beyond.
• Jamie: With two suspended defenders plus an injured ‘keeper, midfielder, and striker, I’ve had to ensure I have a starting eleven, so I can’t bring in Dominic Solanke as I would have liked to. Bournemouth look like they’re thriving under Andoni Iraola after a sluggish start to the season. Solanke has a great run of fixtures, starting with Luton Town this week, but I’d need to take a minus to accommodate him.
• Tom: Willian should have every chance to exploit an extremely depleted Newcastle defense, but the minutes have been shaky of late. Unfortunately, there's not enough consistency in the numbers to warrant a buy on him, but the spot could not be better for the 35-year-old Brazilian.

Who's getting the Captain's armband?

• Euan: Mohamed Salah finally bagged his 200th goal for Liverpool on Saturday and should play more carefree against Man United. The Egyptian regularly dominates this match and is prolific at home this season. The Red Devils are down in the dumps, while Liverpool is flying high. I'm expecting a couple of returns from Salah on Sunday.
• Jamie: Considering Salah finished with 13 points last Saturday despite being almost anonymous for over an hour, I’m leaning into the Egyptian King. The fact he has eight goals and four assists in his last four EPL games against Manchester United has appeal as well. Salah has been a glitch at home, so it isn’t easy to look beyond him.
• Tom: Mo Salah's price continues to climb, but this is a perfect spot to expect 90 minutes out of the star midfielder, and Manchester United gets slower as the match wears on. I'd be shocked if Salah left GW 17 without a goal or assist on his record.

Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 17?

• Euan: Fatigue and lack of rotation cause Newcastle to bottom out with a loss to Fulham at home. Meanwhile, Sheffield United grabs its second away draw of the season at Stamford Bridge versus Chelsea. Elsewhere, Wolves batter a weary West Ham squad to win its first away tilt since Gameweek 9.
• Jamie: Fulham continues their impressive recent form by taking all three points from their trip to Newcastle. Porro, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, and Alfie Doughty all have a goal involvement. Tottenham concedes the opening goal of their game for the first time since Matchday 6. But they still win comfortably, resulting in Steve Cooper becoming the next manager sacked.
• Tom: Sunday's MASSIVE slate of star-studded matches results in fast-paced action and more than 15 goals among the eight teams combined. That's an average of two goals per team. Use your players in those games!

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